One man stood at the back of the wood paneled hearing room screaming "Bring them Home," "Bring them Home" before being hustled out by US Capitol police to a standing ovation from fellow protestors.

Earlier, a woman stood on her chair in the public seating area as Republican presidential pick Senator John McCain began his prepared statement to the committee.

"Senator McCain there is no military solution," she shouted, and held up a banner with an identical slogan.

McCain at first tried to continue speaking, but was interrupted by Democratic committee chairman Carl Levin calling for order.

"I have had this experience previously, Mr Chairman," McCain said.

When General David Petraeus entered the hearing room to deliver his testimony, protestors chanted "Stop the killing," "Surge of Sorrow," and "Stay out of Iran."

Several protestors from the Code Pink anti-war group were dressed in black hijabs without veils, their faces whitened with makeup to make them look like corpses. Others held up hands reddened with paint to represent blood.

Others held up signs reading "Surge of Sorrow" and "Surge of Sins" a reference to the US troop surge strategy under discussion at the hearing also including US ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker.